Improvement in railroad time-signals



H. H. man.

-Sig nals.

Railroad Ti me Patented September 23, 187'3 INVENTGH.

\N\TNESSES UNITED STATES NPATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM H. FORD, `OF SANFORD, MAINE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HORACE M. FORD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND IVORY H. FORD, OF GREAT FALLS, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD TIME-SIGNALS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 143,135, dated September 23, 1873; application filed June 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM H. Form, of Sanford, in the county of York and Stateof Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railway-Signals, of which the following is a specication:

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and certain means of automatically signaling to the next train the length of time or number of minutes intervening be tween the passing of a train, and the next succeeding one to pass any point where such signal is located until suficient time has elapsed to vprevent collision between such trains; `and it consists in providing a reservoir to be filled with dry sand or similar material, which is permitted to run out at the bottom of such reservoir, through a small hole, into a receptacle below, two opposite sides of which are provided with glass, which, with its frame upon the outside, are marked in graduations of time it takes the sand to ll it up to a given point. A lamp or light is provided within an inclosing case to show its action by night. The bottom of the receptacle for containing the sand is provided with a large valve, which is opened by means of a hinged lever that has one end placed near the side of the rail, and projecting a slight distance above the top of the same, so that when the wheels of a tra-in pass over and depress the same its opposite end is raised, which connects, by an upright rod, with the valve, and causes it to open instantly and let the sandrun out. A rubber spring is provided beneath the short end of the lever,

which returns it into its former position andcloses the valve. When the train has passed the sand runs in and commences to lill the same. The time required for lling may be regulated as desired; and it can be seen how far it` has advanced by the sand being opaque, thus shutting oi' the view of the light through the glass sides of the recepta-` cle until it is lled, when the light is nearly obscured.

Any colored glass or sand may be used, black or white, as desired.

The lever is constructed of such form as to free itself from ice in ease it becomes frozen into the same, also as to cut into the same if frozen beneath it, so asto permit the wheels of a train to pass over the same freely at all times.

Figure l is a vertical central section through a signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a section view of the valve and lever at right angles from Fig. 1.

A is the rail `of the usual construction. B'

is a hinged lever pivoted in the box C by a bolt passing through the same. Within this box is a rubber or other suitable spring, S. D is a connecting-rod hinged to the longer end of the leverB and extending upward to the case E, through the bottom or side of which it is permitted to slide up or down freely. Its upper end is connected to the valve F, it being of such construction and size as to free the whole bottom of the receptacle G and permit the instant escape of the sand H, the opposite sides of which are provided with glass slides I I', the outer one being marked with graduations &c., which may be repeated in largercharacters upon the outside of the case E. J is a reservoir, which may be lledwith dry fine sand well sifted. This reservoir has a small narrow bottom, constructed of hard steel, K, and is provided with a small hole, L, which may be gaged, according to the size of receptacle G, as to have it lill in a certain given time. Within thecase E isplaced a light, M, which shines through the glass sides of the receptacle G, and shows what distance thesand has filled the bottom of the same, or if sufficient time has elapsed since the previous train passed over and emptied the same it would be nearly full, the light showing only at the top corners of the glass, suitable doors being provided to introduce the light and draftholes to admit air to the same; also, an opening, P, to allowthe sand to fall from the outer or main case. R represents teeth or `points upon thennder side of the lever to facilitate in freeing its path fromAice, its

sides being beveled upward to its top to inasma-ll hole, L, or their equivalents, when consure a like removal of ice when it happens to structed to operate in conjunction with dry become frozen thereon. Sand or similar material, substantially in the Having thus described my invention, what manner described, as and for the purposes set I claim isforth.

In combination with a rail, A, of a railway, HIRAM H. FORD. the hinged lever B, box C, spring S, connectin g-rod D, valve F, receptacle G provided with Witnesses: glass sides I I', case E, and reservoir J, hav- SYLvENUs WALKER, in g a hardened steel bottom, K, provided with HORACE M. FORD. 

